He Grew Up on the Streets, Now He's Making Them a Better Place

“I was always a soldier, but I was a soldier in the wrong army.” Noah Patton has always been a fighter. After leaving his life on the streets behind, Patton turned his focus to fighting a different battle: revitalizing his community in Flint, Michigan. Patton leads a group of workers who perform much-needed yard work and maintenance in neglected neighborhoods. Strengthened by his faith, Patton believes in healing his community one person at a time. As he explains, "Instead of being part of the problem, we're part of the solution."

The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.

Know of a great short film that should be part of our Showcase? Email sfs@natgeo.com to submit a video for consideration. See more from National Geographic's Short Film Showcase at documentary.com

He Grew Up on the Streets, Now He's Making Them a Better Place

“I was always a soldier, but I was a soldier in the wrong army.” Noah Patton has always been a fighter. After leaving his life on the streets behind, Patton turned his focus to fighting a different battle: revitalizing his community in Flint, Michigan. Patton leads a group of workers who perform much-needed yard work and maintenance in neglected neighborhoods. Strengthened by his faith, Patton believes in healing his community one person at a time. As he explains, "Instead of being part of the problem, we're part of the solution."

The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.

Know of a great short film that should be part of our Showcase? Email sfs@natgeo.com to submit a video for consideration. See more from National Geographic's Short Film Showcase at documentary.com